alewife
/ˈeɪlwaɪf/
noun
- A woman who keeps an alehouse or tavern; a female innkeeper.
- The alewife greeted travelers and offered them a warm drink.
- In medieval England, the alewife was often the brewer and seller of ale.
- Historical records show that many alewives ran successful businesses in their villages.
- A small, silvery fish of the herring family, found along the Atlantic coast of North America.
- Alewives swim up rivers every spring to spawn.
- The alewife is an important food source for larger fish and birds.
- Fishermen catch alewives to use as bait for lobsters.
Synonyms